Wednesday, February 24, 2010

YA Vamps in Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber

Ellen Schreiber writes the Vampire Kisses young adult books.

She also writes the Manga series Vampire Kisses "Blood Relatives":

Here she continues her vampire story in the manga series of Vampire Kisses "Blood Relatives" Volumes 1-3. REM illustrates Volumes 1-2 beautifully down to Goth girl Raven's skull hairpins and bat necklace and is joined by Elisa Kwon in Volume 3. As you can see in the covers, they show off Raven's one of a kind intricate black-laced wardrobe and style. In "Blood Relatives" Raven and her vampire boyfriend Alexander Sterling have to deal with the appearance of his half-vampire cousin Claude and his gang who have come to town. Suddenly, Raven isn't the only one dressed in black clad at Dullsville High and she has to figure out what they want and keep her friends and family safe. After all, Alexander can't come out in the day to help, because he is a full vampire after all...

That is one thing I like about the Vampire Kisses is the classic vampire-ness of the characters. The manga series also ties in nicely with the main characters being in both of the books series. The scenes are also recreated nicely into what one would have imagined. The unique twist in the manga series being Claude's half-vampire self, his gang and their quest endangering Raven and her friends.

I'm sure they will figure it out... with one fang or another. It's an adorable Gothic YA vampire series! The manga drawings add a beautiful new element to the literature that allows us to see Raven's wardrobe in the way that Ellen envisioned and with REM's special touch. There is a slight difference in the illustration with the addition of Elisa Kwon in Volume 3. However, it flows well. Should I have the pleasure of publishing my own fanged fiction someday (a girl can dream!), my next joy would be to do a companion graphic novel, manga or comic series as well (may as well dream big!!); just as Ellen has done with her Vampire Kisses series. It compliments the series well, in my opinion. It adds a visual aspect to what the reader has only imagined. Now, if only I knew someone who could draw... Wait, I do! Hmm... I'll have to work on my powers of persuasion. And keep writing, of course. Well, not all dreams come true, but let's see what happens. It's important to dream! And to go after those dreams. And, for Ellen, I think things worked out quite nicely. These are lovely books! I recommend them as companions with the Vampire Kisses books series. Speaking of...

As a mortal girl dating a vampire, Raven knows that love isn’t always easy. Now that Alexander’s parents have returned to Romania, Raven and her dreamy vampire boyfriend are happy to resume their cryptic romance.

But soon another visitor comes knocking: Sebastian, Alexander’s best friend, arrives for a stay at the mansion. At first Raven is wary, and then thrilled – this is the perfect chance to learn more about her darkly handsome boyfriend and his past. Raven has been wondering whether Alexander will ever bite her and make their love immortal, and Sebastian could be her guide to the love habits of Alexander and his kind. But when Sebastian falls for a particular Dullsvillian, will another mortal beat Raven to the bite?

Here's the cover:

Have you read any of the Vampire Kisses? If so, let us know what you think?

6 comments:

I read the first book in this series a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it. It was cute. I liked the fact that Raven was presented as a nice person who loved "dark" things instead of a bad stereotype of the goth subculture. And it was nice to see a kids book written _for kids_. I have seen negative reviews of this series that complain that it is not "mature" or "deep" enough - um, yeah, it was written for kids.

Thank you, both! They WERE written for kids, and that is one reason I do love them. But, not everyone has to. THANK YOU for pointing that out, because I forgot to emphasize that aspect even in the YA genre. And for Raven's character and love of all things "dark". I find it adorable. Obviously, it is not for everyone based on reviews and all, but it is nice that there is a series like this for kids since there are very few out there. And I hope to add to that myself one day... I also like Alexander's character, but I am one for the sweet, art-loving/drawing, dancing vampire, yes he dances in Vol. 3 of manga series. :)

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